Ancient China

We have moved across the continent of Asia from Ancient India into Ancient China.

Together as a class we created our own maps of Asia. This helps students use their map skills and to also use as a resource to locate the different regions we are in, and to also follow where we are moving. We also have a globe in our classroom to see the connection of Asia to other parts of the world!

Our first lesson focused on the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers.

We covered topics such as:

The Yellow River with silt

The Yangtze River and the rice fields

Farming along the rivers and in the rice fields

Chinese inventions

Ancient Chinese city settlements

Ask your child why the Yellow River is yellow?

Why is the Yellow River called the "Mother River" and "China's Great Sorrow?"

What name did the area along the Yangtze River get due to the fertile soil?

 The lesson to follow was on the Ancient Chinese form of paper, writing and calligraphy

Topics we discussed included

Chinese characters

Understanding the writing system used in ancient China and today

Writing on bone, hemp paper, and bamboo writing tools

Learning about inventor Cai Lun (invented a form of paper)

The Chinese printing workshop

Calligraphic Art

Ask your child if it was easy for Chinese to get copies of books? Why or why not?

Next lesson to come...A Chinese folktale The Magic Paintbrush